An American entrepreneur in Iceland: earning $73,000 a year and feeling “at home”! An article shares her reasons for immigrating to Iceland, her monthly living costs, and why she likes it here

But that was the job, she was told. If she was going to sell potential clients on nature hikes, kayaking tours and glacier climbs, she had to be there and experience them herself.

Once Jewells began experiencing Iceland firsthand, “my life changed,” she said. “It was all about nature, understanding it, respecting it, and marketing it to potential clients. I loved it.”

By 2017, it seemed like everyone in her hometown was asking her about Iceland. Jewells realized that since she loved listening to podcasts, why not make one herself?

All Things Iceland launched in 2018. Jewells plans to air it for at least a year, with one episode per week.

Today, things are booming. Chambers’ one-person company makes money through ad sales, sponsorships and affiliate marketing. She also sells maps, travel consulting and private tours, while working behind the scenes with corporate clients to produce online and social media content.

Overall, the company took in about $50,000 in revenue in the first half of the year, of which Chambers paid himself a total compensation of about $6,000 per month.

Iceland’s spending

Jewells took on much of the financial burden for herself and her now ex-husband from 2016 to 2020, while her ex-husband founded a psychological practice. The two separated in 2022 and divorced in 2023.

Jewells has a boyfriend, whom she began dating earlier this year, but the two do not currently have combined finances.

Here are Chambers’ expenses for June:

(Note: Iceland uses the Krona, but it is converted to USD here for better understanding. The ISK to USD exchange rate uses the OANDA exchange rate on June 30, 2024, which is 1 USD to 139.085 ISK. All amounts are rounded.)

• Housing: $2,031 for rent, phone and Wi-Fi

• Groceries: $545

• Cash savings: $428

• Discretionary spending: $423 for household goods, house and car cleaning, health and entertainment

• Travel: $368 for a trip to Amsterdam with friends